Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association (SVCA) President John Atwood has recently announced Dr. Stephen R. Patton of Whitefield has been appointed as its next Executive Director. Patton will succeed Maureen Hoffman who has served in that position since 2002.

Patton has advanced degrees in biology and extensive experience overseeing a major preserve of The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut. He also earned a reputation for developing close relationships with landowners, municipal representatives and donors while greatly expanding the conserved land around the preserve. 

Patton was with The Nature Conservancy for 22 years. His most recent position with them was as Director of Forests, Preserves and Land Protection and Director of Landscape Programs where he managed the directors of several community-based, multi-town, landscape programs throughout Connecticut. 

Even before applying for the position, Patton and his wife Lise had purchased an old farmhouse in Whitefield that they are currently renovating. They have been coming to Maine for over 30 years and have owned a house in Lubec for many of those years.

“Among his many talents, Steve is also an accomplished orthnithologist and I am certain that he will come to value highly the diverse natural resources of the Sheepscot Valley,” Atwood said. “As everyone knows, Maureen Hoffman has done an extraordinary job serving as the principal steward of SVCA’s activities for the past 10 years …. It is reassuring to know that she has a worthy successor.”

Hoffman said, “I am excited to introduce Steve to all of the wonderful people who make this organization so effective. We will have several weeks working together and I am sure that this transition will be a seamless one for SVCA.”